A white Oxford, Mississippi police officer was arrested and charged with murdering his Black girlfriend. The murder case has attracted national attention.
Dominique Clayton, a 32-year-old mother of four, was found murdered in her bed inside her Oxford home on Sunday. Her body was found by her children, according to News One.
“Her children found her,” said a neighbor. “They went out the house crying, screaming. A man who lives down the street from us, he went over there and found her too.”
Police did not disclose the manner of death, but her family says she was shot in the back of the head while she was sleeping.
Former officer Matthew Kinne was arrested on Monday and charged with Clayton’s death after investigators discovered he and the victim were romantically involved.
Kinne was terminated from his job the next day, WTVA reports.
Clayton’s family said she and Kinne dated for a year and she tried to end things with the officer before she was killed.
A hearing for Kinne was deferred on Wednesday to allow the attorneys to discuss a possible bond.
The family was irate at the judge’s behavior on the bench.
“When do a defendant decide their bond?” said Bessie Clayton, Dominique’s mother. “When do a judge sit on a bench of a murder charge and laugh?”
“That’s how most cases are handled,” said Kinne’s attorney, Tiffany Kilpatrick, according to WMC 5 News.
Interim Police Chief Jeff McCutchen addressed Clayton’s family after the hearing.
“Matthew Kinne committed murder and we do not want him out,” said McCutchen. “We support them and we will stand by them.”
He added: “We want to assure you that we will not hide behind our badge. Our hearts go out to the family of Dominique Clayton. To the family, we thank you for your patience and your trust in us to see this through.”
Clayton’s family and their attorney will hold a press conference on the steps of the courthouse on Friday at 2:30 p.m. local time.
“We will conduct a complete and thorough investigation and hold ALL responsible for her death accountable,” attorney Carlos Moore stated.
Dominique’s sister Shyjaun Clayton said she’s disappointed there aren’t more details about Kinne’s arrest, saying, “Hopefully he’ll get convicted. We’ll get justice for my sister.”
Kinne remains in jail without bond for now.
